2000 Land Rover Freelander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,068 MOT tests, the 2000 Land Rover Freelander recorded a 69.4% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.2% fail rate), the 2000 Freelander comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 14.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 440 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2000 Freelander fails 30.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 29.8% fail against 31.6% for petrol, a 1.8-point gap across 4,068 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.6% in 2021 to 28.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.3% | 706 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 569 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 541 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 396 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 366 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 197 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 440 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 323 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 321 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 240 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 226 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 223 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.0% | 1,626 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 1,238 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 913 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.7% | 762 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.2% | 739 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 451 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 43 | 30.2% |
| 30-60k | 297 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 709 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,122 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 985 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 858 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,349 | 29.8% |
| Petrol | 1,719 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,368 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 990 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 744 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 545 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 421 | 28.5% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Freelander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2000 Land Rover Freelanders pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 4,068 2000 Land Rover Freelander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Land Rover Freelander?
Brakes, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.0%).
Does the 2000 Freelander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,068 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.